Glucocorticoids and Mineralocorticoids in Hair: Facilitating Accurate Diagnosis of Adrenal-Related Endocrine Disorders

This study explored the presence of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids in hair follicles to identify potential biomarkers for adrenal-related endocrine disorders. Using a novel extraction protocol, hair samples from 15 healthy volunteers were analyzed, revealing that all targeted steroids were detectable above the lower limit of quantification. Notably, deoxycortisol, deoxycorticosterone, and aldosterone were detected for the first time in men, and 18-hydroxycorticosterone was detected in both genders. The study found that deoxycortisol and deoxycorticosterone showed significant fluctuation along the hair follicle, while other steroids remained consistent. The findings suggest that these steroids in hair follicles could serve as reliable biomarkers for diagnosing conditions like hypoaldosteronism, primary hyperaldosteronism, Cushing’s syndrome, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.